Heineken to make £44m investment in UK pub estate

Unprecedented investment: Michael and Shaun O’Rourke saw the Coachman in Wickham benefit from a £550,000 refurbishment

Heineken is poised to make its largest ever investment in Star Pubs & Bars, with £44m to be spent during 2018 – more than double last year's expenditure.

That investment will bring Heineken’s total expenditure to almost £140m in the last five years, and will create close to 1,000 new jobs.

Around a quarter of Star Pubs & Bars’ 2,900 sites will see investment over the next year, which includes 140 major capex projects with an average of £170,000 to be spent per site.

Heineken UK managing director David Forde commented: “We are passionate supporters of the Great British Pub and believe that well-invested pubs run by skilled and motivated operators will continue to prosper.

“We believe that our commitment to investment, and understanding of consumer trends, will help our licensees’ businesses to keep growing and ensure that the Great British Pub remains at the heart of British life for generations to come.”

Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Greg Clark added: “From pop-up breweries to historic watering holes, pubs are at the heart of communities and play a vital role in local economies.

“This record investment by Heineken and their creation of 1,000 new British jobs is another significant vote of confidence in the UK economy.”

Pub is the Hubs John Longden commented: “Pubs are increasingly being recognised as a force for good and important social hubs for communities, driving local economies and supporting local employment.

“Many communities are lacking investment so Heineken’s ongoing commitment to revive and refurbish their pubs in order to deliver the services, activities and the jobs communities need, is very good news for everyone.”

The Coachman in Wickham, Hampshire, run by brothers Michael and Shaun O’Rourke, recently re-opened after a £550,000 investment.

Michael O’Rourke commented: “The quality of the refurbishment is amazing.

“We were a bit worried it might be too modern, but people love it and say it’s exactly what the community has been crying out for.

“Although it’s mainly used by nearby residents, we’ve got customers coming from 10 miles away now. We’ve been told that it’s brought the community back together.

“We’ve had people coming in and socialising who haven’t set foot in the pub or talked to one other for 20 years. Older men still come in for a drink and to play a game of dominoes, but now the pub also attracts young people on a Friday and Saturday night, and families for evening tea.”